James Dearing

James Dearing (25 April 1840-22 April 1865) was a Colonel of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War and one of the last generals to die in the war.

Biography
James Dearing was born in Campbell County, Virginia in 1840, and he was ranked first in his class at West Point in 1861. However, he resigned on 22 April 1861 when his home state seceded, leaving the academy just before graduation in favor of serving in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. Dearing served in the artillery of the Army of Northern Virginia, and he was promoted to Major in early 1863. On 12 January 1864, when George Pickett was given command of the Department of Southern Virginia and North Carolina, Pickett gave Dearing command of the mounted force with the rank of colonel. In July 1864, he was sent back to Virginia to continue the fight against the Union, and he was shot through the lungs and captured after engaging in a close-quarters shootout with two Union officers at High Bridge on 6 April 1865 during the Appomattox campaign; he managed to kill Colonel Francis Washburn during the duel. Dearing died on 22 April 1865 of his wounds, one of the last generals to die during the war.